Stop Worrying About What You Can’t Control
Shift your energy to what you can create
This is a quote by Roy T. Bennett.
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”
When I first read this, I was astonished by how relatable it was. There were so many occasions where I would just go in the panic mode. The famous “what would happen…” thought would simply make me anxious.
It still happens. Whenever I have to do something I’m not used to, something new, something that can be challenging, I get anxious. I start worrying about all the things that can go wrong.
There are a few things I try to do when I’m in that state of mind.
Believe
I say it aloud, “I can do it. I did it for 24 years (since I was born), tackling new problems all along the way. I can do this one thing as well.”
It works in the sense that you start to believe in yourself and in your abilities.
“Believe in Your Heart
Believe in your heart that you’re meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.” ― Roy T. Bennett
Break your worries into smaller, manageable chunks
Yes. When we worry about something we can’t control, it simply means we have to tackle our fears, our worries. The work that causes this anxiety is not the real problem here.
Let’s explain with an example.
Suppose, you don’t know how to swim. And your friends are planning to go on a voyage in a couple of months' time. You have lost your night’s sleep thinking about “what would happen” if the boat sinks? What if there are no lifejackets for you? What if…
As you can see, the problem is not the voyage. The problem is neither with the boat. The problem here is your thoughts, your worries, your fears.
Hence, to tackle your worries, you can break it down into smaller chunks. How?
What if you carry a lifejacket with you? Even if the boat doesn’t have one for you, you have carried your own. One fear is taken care of. Your anxiety reduces. What if you join a swimming program tomorrow, and at least learn to float in these two months?
Taking actionable steps will reduce your worries. The lesser the worries, the more confidence you get. The more confidence you have the better you take actions if your worries come true and the boat does sink.
We must remember, the human race is used to come through uncertain times. That’s in our DNA. You and I have faced uncertain times as well. We learned how to walk despite not knowing whether we could or not. We passed our exams year in, year out.
All we need to do is believe in ourselves that we can handle any unknown circumstances.
What are your thoughts on this? Let me know.
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